The American-Armenian Project for the Archaeology and Geography of Ancient Transcaucasian Societies (Project ArAGATS) is a collaborative research program directed by Dr. Ruben Badalyan (Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography, Yerevan) and Dr. Adam T. Smith (Department of Anthropology, University of Chicago). Since 1998 they have been leading archaeological expeditions to the Tsaghkahovit Plain in northwestern Armenia, an elevated plateau below the north slope of Mt. Aragats. They are currently "in the field" excavating two sites, Tsaghkahovit and Gegharot, with funding from the National Science Foundation and the National Geographic Society. Over the next few weeks, the American and Armenian members of the team will be sending dispatches from the field describing the progress of their work and providing a window into everyday life on an archaeological expedition in the Republic of Armenia. This dispatch, from the excavations at Gegharot Fortress, was sent in by Alan Greene (University of Chicago) and Armine Hayrapetyan (Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography, Yerevan).

The excavations of Project ArAGATS at Gegharot fortress, an Early and Late Bronze Age settlement, are improving our overall picture of ancient life on the Tsaghkahovit Plain of Armenia. Following the discovery of a 2nd millennium B.C. shrine and workshop at the site in 2003 (discussed in the previous dispatch), work at Gegharot this summer has continued to provide sensational new discoveries.

The archaeological site of Gegharot covers a large hill overlooking the eponymous village. The Bronze Age complexes at Gegharot include components from several of Armenia's archaeological periods. During the Early Bronze Age occupation of the site (ca. 2900-2600 B.C.) a small village covered much of the hill, from the citadel and slopes, where we have recovered evidence of small homes, to the base, where we have found several burials. During the Late Bronze Age occupation (ca. 1500-1150 B.C.), a fortress was constructed on the citadel, with at least one large terrace carved into the bedrock. From our work in 2003 it was apparent that the Late Bronze shrine was violently destroyed and then quickly rebuilt by the inhabitants - a series of events confirmed this season by the continued excavation of room blocks in the fortress citadel. Under the quickly renovated living spaces of the final Late Bronze occupation we have uncovered burnt beams, fallen walls, and fractured storage jars. This suggests that large portions of the site may have been repeatedly destroyed and rebuilt during the turbulent and violent years of the late 2nd millennium B.C. Some of the most evocative objects discovered this summer have been Late Bronze stamps, projectile points, a crucible, and an anthropomorphic figurine which could be related to ancient religious beliefs. This is the first time that these objects have been found together as a complete complex from a single site!

Of course, any archaeological project like ours requires the organization of countless people and supplies to go smoothly. There is a particular rhythm to our work and life here in shadow of Mount Aragats. Each day we ascend the hill behind the village in our van full of excavation equipment, plastic bags for collecting artifacts, and of course a tasty lunch with the best cucumbers and tomatoes that Armenia can offer. The hill rises high above Gegharot village and fieldworkers from the village meet us at the crest. This close proximity enables us to enjoy communal ice cream or coffee breaks benevolently sent up from the village below! From the top of the site one can observe the villages of the plain, its archaeological sites, and the full glory of Mt. Aragats to the south. While the sun of the Tsaghkahovit Plain is strong, cool breezes and occasional rain showers keep the atmosphere comfortable. From day to day and year to year, the work at Gegharot brings us together around our discoveries and our pursuit of the past.